가시나무새(The Thorn Birds) 저자 콜린 맥칼러크 여사 타계

'바람과 함께 사라지다'의 호주판으로 평가될 만큼 세계인의 사랑을 받았던
장편 로맨스 소설 '가시나무새'의 저자 맥칼러크 77세로 타계.

1983년 TV 미니 시리즈로 제작돼 더욱 유명해져.

호주 양치기 촌락에서 한 신부와 성장기 소녀 사이의 사랑과 비극을 그린 서사시적인 소설.

Thorn Birds author Colleen McCullough dies age 77

"There is a legend about a bird which sings only once in its life, more beautifully than any other creature on the face of the earth. From the moment it leaves it's nest, it searches for a thorn tree, and does not rest until it has found one. Then, it impales it's breast on the longest, sharpest thorn. But as it is dying, it rises above its own agony to out sing the Lark and the Nightingale. The Thorn bird pays its life for that one song, and the whole world stills to listen, and God in his heaven smiles, as it's best is brought only at the cost of great pain; Driven to the thorn with no knowledge of the dying to come. But when we press the thorn to our breast, we know, we understand.... and still, we do it." – From The Thorn Birds (by Colleen McCullough)
― Colleen McCullough, The Thorn Birds

가시나무새 TV 시리즈 주요 장면을 편집한 유투브 동영상

THE BEST-SELLING author of The Thorn Birds Colleen McCullough has died at age 77 after a long illness.

The Australian author – whose celebrated Thorn Birds novel sold more than sold 30 million copies worldwide – died today in a hospital on remote Norfolk Island.

McCullough suffered increasingly poor health in recent years, gradually losing her sight and suffering crippling arthritis.

The Thorn Birds writer continued writing using dictation.

"The world is a less colourful place without Col," said Shona Martyn, of Harper Collins Australia, in tribute to the author.

She added: "Ever quick-witted and direct, we looked forward to her visits from Norfolk Island and the arrival of each new manuscript, delivered in hard copy, in custom-made maroon manuscript boxes inscribed with her name."

Ms McCullough wrote a total of 25 novels during her career.

Her first novel Tim was published in 1974 while the author was living in the US.

The book was made into a film starring Mel Gibson five years later.

But it was Ms McCullough's second book – The Thorn Birds – that made her an internationally best-selling author.

GETTYThe 692-page epic has been dubbed Australia's answer to Gone With The Wind and follows a forbidden love between a young woman and a priest rooted in the Australian sheep country.

The rights for the book sold for a then-record $1.9 million (£1.25m).

Author Tara Moss paid tribute to the writer on Twitter: "So sad to hear of the passing of Colleen McCullough. She was fierce, funny and so supportive of other writers. Irreplaceable. RIP Colleen."

Before becoming an author, Ms McCullough studied neuroscience and spent 10 years as a researcher at Yale Medical School.

She established the neurophysiology department at Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital.

Her final novel is entitled Bittersweet and was published in 2013.

She is survived by her husband, Ric Robinson.

-데일리 익스프레스 (Jan. 29, 2015)